"Terminator: Genesis," the fifth film in the popular sci-fi action franchise -- and one that comes on the heels of 2009's "Terminator: Salvation," the only film in the series that didn't star Schwarzenegger -- started principal photography Monday in New Orleans, according to a nola.com report.

"I was upset that I couldn't be in the fourth Terminator, because I was governor (of California)," Schwarzenegger recently told MTV about the prospect of returning to the role that helped make him a household name. "So they did the fourth one without me. It made me cry a little bit -- but I did say, 'I'll be back,' so now I'm back again and it's going to be really terrific."

The film is being directed by "Thor: The Dark World" director Alan Taylor. In addition to Schwarzenegger, it will star Emilia Clarke ("Game of Thrones") as Sarah Connor, Jason Clarke ("Zero Dark Thirty") as John Connor, and Jai Courtney ("A Good Day to Die Hard") as Kyle Reese. They are joined in the cast by Byng-hun Lee ("G.I. Joe: Retaliation"), J.K. Simmons ("Juno"), Sadrine Holt ("House of Cards") and Dayao Okeniyi ("The Hunger Games").

As far as plot details, studio Paramount Pictures is keeping things under wraps, although there's no shortage of rumors and speculation online. Adding to it recently was Schwarzenegger, who in that interview with MTV provided a bit of insight into what the story will entail.

" 'Terminator' deals a lot with time travel, so there will be a younger T-800," he said. "And then what that model does later on when it gets reprogrammed, and who gets ahold of him. So it will be all kinds of interesting twists in the movie, but I feel so good."